DreamWorks Animation has been developing a sequel to the 2013 animated featureThe Croodsever since that film proved to be a smashing box office success, but now over three years later, the studio is calling quits. PerVariety, DreamWorks Animation has opted to scrap plans forThe Croods 2despite the fact that they just hired new writers for the project, brothersKevinandDan Hageman, in August. The film was slated for release on July 29, 2025 before DreamWorks Animation moved from 20th Century Fox to Universal Pictures, but the report notes thatThe Croods 2had been a troubled project for a while, with doubts being raised even before the move to Universal.
Directed byKirk DeMiccoandChris Sanders,The Croodswas a prehistoric-set family comedy that boasted an A-list voice cast includingNicolas Cage,Emma Stone,Ryan Reynolds, andCatherine Keener. It grossed $587.2 million worldwide and came at a time when the studio was ramping up its output, churning out films likeRise of the Guardians,Turbo, andMr. Peabody & Shermanthat failed to break out big.The Croodswas seen as a lucrative franchise alongside the stalwartKung Fu PandaandHow to Train Your Dragonseries, but apparently the studio had trouble finding the right story to continue on.
DreamWorks Animation was acquired by NBCUniversal back in April of this year, raising questions as to how Universal would approachJeffrey Katzenberg’s animation studio given that the Universal-owned Illumination Entertainment is in the midst of proving itself as a hit-maker in the same leagues as Pixar and DWA. This summer Illumination had massive success withThe Secret Life of Pets, its first hit film outside of theDespicable Mebrand, but its still unclear if Universal plans to further differentiate the two animation studios.
So far this scuttling ofThe Croods 2is the only major change, but just before the sale to Universal Katzenberg announced his intention to scale back the studio’s output and focus on quality over quantity. Universal is in the midst ofreviving theShrekfranchiseat DWA, andEdgar Wrightis seemingly stillattached to write and direct the original animated featureShadows, set for release in 2019.
In the near future, DreamWorks Animation hasThe Boss BabyandCaptain Underpantscoming in 2017, followed by the Australia-setLarrikinsand the highly anticipatedHow to Train Your Dragon 3in 2018.
